Rocketship Park

Village of Port Jefferson, NY

The subject property is an existing 4,000 SF playground built in the mid-1970s located about 750 feet from the Port Jefferson Harbor, in the Village of Port Jefferson (Port Jeff). Port Jeff is a historic shipbuilding village on the north shore of Long Island in the Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York.

Years of neglect and vandalism left the park in need of a full makeover. The new design was focused on increased accessibility for all kids, using an Inclusive Play Design while encouraging children of all ages to engage in meaningful play. LKMA was the sole engineering consultant, site survey and proposed schematic site plans were developed for this project.

Equipment selection emphasized a meaningful play design, allowing children the opportunity to choose how they play while seeing connections with play and choice. A “choose your own adventure” engages children in the five elements essential to meaningful play. The five elements of meaningful play are: physical; cognitive; social; sensory; and communication.

The site plan was arranged to maximize parental supervision with clean lines of sight from dispersed seating areas.

The ground-level play equipment was selected to be accessible to mobility impaired children. Other equipment selections were adaptive allowing accessible use.

The sand surface (a physical barrier to accessibility) was removed and replaced with a recycled poured-in-place rubber surface. This surface serves a dual role by providing an accessible surface and fall protection within the fall zones under the playground equipment.